Arsenal Injury Update: Wenger On Wilshere & Koscielny

Arsenal produced an excellent display of attacking flair in the first half and defensive resilience in the second period to beat Sunderland 1-0 on Saturday afternoon. However, the win came at a cost with defender Laurent Koscielny pulling up in the warm up and midfielder Jack Wilshere being forced off early in the second half and boss Arsene Wenger has given an update on the duo’s injury’s to Arsenal.com.

Koscielny was a major doubt for the game after picking up a calf strain while away with the French squad last week but looked set to play against the Black Cats before aggravating the problem while warming up for the game. However, Wenger feels the injury isn’t a serious one and he is expected back in a matter of days.

Wilshere was singled out for some rough treatment by the Sunderland players on Saturday and was forced off after taking a kick to his thigh early in the second half, but again the boss doesn’t think it’s a long-term problem and he hopes Jack will be back in four or five days.

Wenger told the clubs official website:

on Koscielny’s injury…

It’s a calf problem. We think it’s a question of days [until he returns] because he had a positive scan. He [came off for France] at half time [on Wednesday] and we decided to give him a trial in the warm up. He was not good enough. I don’t think it’s long-term.

on Wilshere’s knock…

It was a big kick on the thigh. He couldn’t walk. He doesn’t walk properly now. I hope it’s four or five days [until he’s back].

With no match during the week, it looks like Koscielny and Wilshere could be fit in time to face Blackburn in the FA Cup on Saturday. Personally, I’d like to see Wenger give Wilshere a rest at the weekend even if he is fit. We’ve got Bayern Munich next Tuesday in the Champions League so let’s give Jack the weekend off and keep him fresh. We should have enough to see off Blackburn without the boy wonder.